Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014
339. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if detailed criteria has been made available to local authorities to enable them to update the application forms under the housing aid for older people scheme and the housing adaptation and mobility aids scheme; the reason for the delay by local authorities in providing these application forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11559/14]
View answerSome changes to the terms and conditions of the schemes were notified to local authorities in January. These changes were made on foot of the recommendations of a review group, established in 2013 by my Department, to examine the terms and conditions governing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability.
Membership of the group included the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA), the Housing Practitioner Network, Local Authority personnel and my Department. Consultations were held with organisations working with older people and people with a disability. The aim of the review was to spread the benefits of the schemes as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. My Department circulated a template for the revised application forms to local authorities on 7 February, 2014. It is a matter for each local authority to insert details of address, contact persons, logo etc. and to make copies of the forms available to potential applicants. There is no impediment to local authorities processing applications for the schemes.
